Tips to Crimestoppers lead to arrest for armed robbery

CHAMPAIGN — Tips to Champaign County Crimestoppers have led to the arrest of a man in connection with the armed robbery of a Champaign adult book store earlier this week.

According to a police report, officers arrested Nick Thurman, 37, who was listed as homeless, at a home in Fisher on Thursday following several tips provided to Crimestoppers and took him to the Champaign County Jail.

Thurman is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Police said a man walked into the Illini Arcade, 33 E. Springfield Ave., at about 8:50 p.m. Sunday and, while armed with a knife, demanded money from a female employee.

After getting an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber ordered the employee to follow him out of the store to a nearby parking lot. He then ran east on Springfield Avenue.

There were two customers in the store at the time of the robbery. No one was physically harmed.

"Tips submitted through the Crimestoppers program assisted us with making this arrest," Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb said in a written release. "This crime may not have been solved without the assistance of the public, and the department is grateful for this program."